I have been a successful agronomist for 18 years and in the golf industry for more than 30, with a professional background spanning various positions within prestigious Top 100 golf clubs across the US. I also had the unique experience of managing world-class polo fields overseas for six years. My love for the sport and its beautiful greens started when I served as a caddy at the prestigious Maidstone Club in New York starting at the young age of 12. The appreciation and cultivation of agriculture have always been in my blood thanks to my family background and growing up on a dairy farm in upstate New York.

 

On my mother’s side of the family, my great-grandfather and grandfather were in the flower-growing industry. My grandfather ran and managed five large greenhouses in Bethpage, New York after he came home from World War II. These greenhouses became the largest wholesale florist business servicing New York City while also maintaining a local retail store. On my father’s side of the family, my grandfather became a prominent dairy farmer setting many records in cattle showing genetics and milk production. His uncle, Henry "Hank" Hammond, was the ground crew supervisor for the NY Mets and took care of both of their fields near Tampa, Florida and in New York. My father also owned the dairy farm where I was born. Taking care of greens is in my blood, and I am lucky to have found a way to turn my passion into a lifelong career.

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Now, after a long tenure in the golf course management industry, I also have an appreciation for the relationships I get to develop with members, which I foster through effective communication and remaining highly visible and accessible on the course. I feel I am an exceptional leader, driven by enthusiasm and high energy, and I’ve been known to have a contagious smile, which certainly helps when working with diverse stakeholders.

 

I have climbed the career ladder since the young age of twelve and have progressively moved on to the next opportunity for constant career growth. I moved to Desert Mountain from the Estancia Club because there was a significantly greater chance of advancement from an Assistant Superintendent role to a Golf Course Superintendent position. Next, I moved from Desert Mountain to China, which was an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move into a Director role, experience another culture, learn sports turf management, and undertake a large-scale construction project. Then, the move back to the states after six years in China allowed me to return home and get back to my roots in golf. The next move from Industry Hills Golf Club in Southern California to Seville Golf & Country Club in Arizona was mainly due to the cost of living; however, at the same time, this move enabled me to re-establish my footprint in private golf. Most recently, I served as the director of agronomy at Barbuda Ocean Club and currently serve as the interim director of agronomy at The Springs Country Club leading a major renovation.

 

I truly love being around people, and my passion to create highly detailed and immaculate playing surfaces enables me to seamlessly communicate the end goal and purpose to my team. My communication skills also allow me to articulate a clear message whether communicating with my team, the Green Chairman, vendors, or the General Manager for diverse purposes and settings, including department head and grounds committee meetings. I also write Turf Talk blog posts to keep the members abreast of course happenings and highlight the amazing work of our grounds team, which has helped me fine-tune my writing abilities while providing a valuable service to our members.

 

My educational background consists of a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness with a concentration in Golf & Facilities Management from Arizona State University. This developed my proficiency in mathematics, where I received an A+ in every algebra class and calculus course, which provided me with a strong foundation in accounting, finance, statistics, and business. Because of my comprehensive turf management skills, sound agribusiness education, human resources expertise, and experience running operations with multimillion-dollar budgets, I am considered a wizard when it comes to running a company from the financial and personnel aspects. I am also proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel, and find these tools helpful in maintaining organized business operations.

 

As a leader, I am an honest, trustworthy, dedicated, and hardworking professional. I accept nothing but the best, and anyone who has hired me will tell you that hands down I am an exceptional worker who always goes above and beyond and will most certainly deliver you the most impeccable playing conditions. My attention to detail is bar none, as is my ability to positively interact with members, guests, leadership, and my team. Because of this, my results consistently exceed expectations, and I look forward to continuing this track record.